The possible unification of America's two open-wheel racing series was in the hands of the lawyers Wednesday, working out the final details of a deal that could re-energize the struggling sport.

Rather than a merger, the proposed deal, which could be announced as soon as Friday, would see some teams from the Champ Car World Series blended into the Indy Racing League's IndyCar Series, with immediate gains in car count and races.

"It is still not done, but still moving," IRL spokesman Fred Nation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"The lawyers are still lawyering and we are still trading drafts and whittling away at the issues. We're optimistic the issues can be resolved."

Meanwhile, Champ Car spokesman David Higdon said series co-owner Kevin Kalkhoven, a key person in the negotiations was still in England on family business and would not return to the U.S. until sometime late Today.

Since the IRL began competing with what was then the established CART series in 1996, the two have gone head to head for drivers, teams, fans, sponsors and TV ratings, generally losing out on all counts.

Things have only gotten worse for both sides in the face of the current U.S. economic woes.